Services Airmen Back to Duty at Selfridge Following Deployment

Photo By Senior Airman Ryan Zeski | Staff Sergeants Chanel Daniels and Emuobosan Ojaruega, disscuss dining facility operations at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., March 4, 2018. Many of the Services Airmen had been deployed to the Middle East for six months and, for most of those, March was their first month back to service on weekend duty with the Wing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)  

MI, UNITED STATES

03.04.2018

Story by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Heaton 

127th Wing

Services Airmen of the Michigan Air Nation Guard’s 127th Wing were back to work at home station in March, preparing lunch and managing fitness and other programs for the Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Many of the Services Airmen had been deployed to the Middle East for six months and, for most of those, March was their first month back to service on weekend duty with the Wing.

“It is good to get back and get back to having our team all together here at Selfridge,” said Senior Airman Torrey Gray, a member of the Services Flight, which is part of the 127th Force Support Squadron.

While deployed, Gray worked in various aspects of the Services career field, including spending several months working on Morale, Welfare & Recreation programs for military personnel at his undisclosed assigned duty station.

“It was a good experience for me, my first deployment,” he said. “You can’t help but learn a lot.”

Gray, who has been a member of the Michigan Air National Guard for about three and a half years, said now he’s settling back in to the routine of home life. He utilizes his military education benefits to work toward a degree in graphic arts at The Art Institute in Novi, Mich. He also works part-time. Previously, he attended Henry Ford Community College, where he also played on the school’s basketball team.

“The Air National Guard is paying for my education, so I can’t complain at all about being part of a deployment. You learn a lot by being a part of that experience,” Gray said.

Across the kitchen at Selfridge, where the Services team was making lunch for the Airmen of the 127th Wing, Airman 1st Class Julia McEachin is busy working with Airman Angelo Raona, preparing a pasta side dish for the lunch service.

A member of the Air National Guard for just about a year, she just missed out on participating in the Services deployment as she was just entering the unit as the deploying members were preparing to go.

“It’s great to have the full team back now,” she said.

An activities coordinator at an assisted living center in her civilian job, McEachin said she enjoys high level of activity required in the Selfridge kitchen during lunch prep and service.

“Everyone is focused on a task. People are jumping in to help each other. It may look like chaos, but it is really an organized team working together,” she said. “The camaraderie is what makes it work.”

It is the mix of skills found in the team that makes it a success, said Master Sgt. Wytina Cathey, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Selfridge dining facility.

“This is a team that wants to work,” she said. “Each one has a skill and they are eager to apply that for the good of mission. That really helps bring that family feel that we have in Services,” Cathey said.

Back in the kitchen, Senior Airman Tina Meyers said she is nearing the point in her career when she needs to decide if she is going to re-enlist. Later this year, she will reach the conclusion of her initial enlistment in the Air National Guard. She, too, was a part of the deployment team from Services.

“Being in the Air National Guard means I am working toward a military retirement. That’s not the only reason I am here, but that’s certainly a part of it,” she said. “Plus, it is a good group of people that I get to work with.”

• Date Taken: 03.04.2018
• Date Posted: 03.06.2018 11:33
• Story ID: 268062
• Location: MI, US